HEARING-LOSS IN PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA - A STUDY OF OUTPATIENTS ATTENDING PORT-MORESBY-GENERAL-HOSPITAL

Hearing loss, with its cause, type and degree, was studied in patients who attended the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatient Clinic at the Port Moresby General Hospital for a period of 5 years from 1987 to 199 2, It was found that 1150 (18%) of the patient population attending th e ENT Clinic had hearing loss, Audiological evaluation was performed i n 583 patients. More males presented to the clinic with hearing loss t han females, Otitis media was the most common identified cause of hear ing loss followed by ear trauma and meningitis/cerebral malaria, Assau lts were the major cause of traumatic hearing loss, Lack of awareness on the part of both professionals and parents affected early identific ation of hearing loss, especially in children, whose development of sp eech and language was seriously impaired. The need for implementation of suitable rehabilitation measures by the health services is emphasiz ed.